Mexican recs

Hey - a friend of mine is going to LA and needs mexican recs, but i'm dated on what's best these days since i live in NY. He's looking for anything that's good doesnt matter if its a nice place, a taco truck whatever.

for seafood prepared in the style of Nayarit and Sinaloa, the place to go isMariscos Chente's/ Coni'Seafood310-672-2339

3544 west imperial highwayinglewood ca 90304

they serve seafood only, no meat dishesthe shrimp dishes are served with the tails peeled but the heads are still on.i've loved all the shrimp dishes i've tried there.no beans are served but the sauteed shrimp dishes come with rice.the fish dishes i would recommend are:pescado zarandeado , a whole, butterflied, barbecued snook (priced by weight of the fish)mojarra frita, whole, scored, deep fried tilapiaboth fish dishes are served bone-in and heads-on.

the shrimp coctel is served in the mexican style --beheaded, cooked, and peeled small shrimp served in a shrimp broth.

(the centinela location is now being controlled by completely different people: the chef, the waitstaff, everyone is completely different. the centinela location just had ANOTHER complete change in staff very recently. i've heard that the last crew walked out en masse)

you want to go to the ONE location at which SERGIO cooks, the ONE location that Los Angeles Magazine dubbed the best mexican food in LA: the WEST IMPERIAL HIGHWAY location.

My favorites are Cacao Mexicatessan in Eagle Rock; Loteria Grill in the Farmers Market, Ricky's Fish Tacos (yes, i finally tried it! though i do like the guy at Atwater FM a tiny bit more for his toppings), and also places like My Taco in Highland Park, El Hurache Azteca in Highland Park... Tons of options with lots of different opinions about which is best but these are my personal favorites. Also it should be noted that I'm fish only; so if there's an amazing carne asada out there i'm not going to know about it.

If you are up for a drive, my favorite taqueria is Carnitas Los Reyes in Orange. All the meats are great and the refried beans are the best I have had. Chicharron is probably the best meat there and it is my favorite.

No need to go to LA for mexican. Plenty of good stuff down here in OC. My current favorite is Trejo's Mexican on Beach in HB. The carnitas and barbacoa combo platter to start. Barbacoa on Saturday and Sundays only. Get there around noon.

Then, any one of their delicious pork of beef stews to finish or take home for later. They have birria de res, chile colorado, chile verde, and my current favorite some kind of pork rib/neck bone soup in a red chile sauce. Awesome.